THE family of a five-year-old girl, swept to her death in a freak balloon accident, are still in shock.

Isobel Victoria Callaghan was killed after becoming entangled in the mooring ropes of an escaped helium balloon at an army show in Germany on Sunday.

Her father Robert, 40, a corporal in 35 Engineer Regiment of the Royal Engineers, her German mother Hannalore, and brother Stuart, four, are being comforted by friends and bereavement counsellors.

Cpl Callaghan's brother Keith, who lives in Circular Drive, Chester, said: "We are all deeply shocked. I don't want to say any more about what happened.

"I don't see my brother very much because he has lived abroad for such a long time and we have only seen the little girl when they have been back.

"I have not been able to get through to Robert since it happened. My parents have flown out to be with them."

Distressed

Alan Patterson, press officer for the British forces in Germany, said: "The family are still in the care of the Military Police and still very distressed by what has happened. They are being looked after by specialist counsellors."

Cpl Callaghan, originally from Chester, has only been with his present unit in Sennelager, in Germany, since April.

Isobel was with her family at the military show at the British army base near Moenchengladbach when tragedy struck.

A cable holding a 12ft helium balloon broke free and wrapped itself around her arm during a "freak storm". Spectators watched in horror as the youngster was swept up into the air and out of sight.

Within minutes a desperate search was launched, but two hours later the youngster's body was found in the small town of Hamminkeln about 40 miles away.

Lieutenant Colonel Helen Wildman, a British military spokeswoman who attended the annual event, said: "It's a miracle that no others were hurt, considering the state of the showground.

Downpour

"It just happened so quickly. It appeared to be a summer shower but soon turned into an incredibly heavy downpour with huge hail stones."

Tents were plucked from the ground and pieces of furniture were sent hurtling through the air as spectators ran for cover, she added.

"Then we saw the balloon lift off and within minutes the rain had stopped and the sun came out. It was utter chaos for a couple of minutes."

The rest of the two-day show was cancelled as a mark of respect after the tragedy.

Mr Patterson said: "The investigation is continuing. Police are continuing to take statements from witnesses from the UK, from Germans and Dutch people, anyone who was at the show. We have also made an appeal for witnesses to come forward."

He said forensic evidence was also being gathered at the scene where the balloon took off and where it landed. The body was discovered about 100 yards away in a field.

A post mortem is due to be carried out today by a senior civilian pathologist who will fly out from Britain.